Published: 19 May 2014
Chairperson Maria Gracia M. Pulido Tan introduces new COA Commissioner Jose A. Fabia during the COA Salutes the Best program on May 8, 2014.
The 115th anniversary celebration of the Commission on Audit (COA) ushered in a new Commissioner who stressed the importance of courage, among other values, in government service.
Newly-appointed Commissioner Jose A. Fabia was introduced by Chairperson Maria Gracia M. Pulido Tan to the COAns on May 8 during the “COA Salutes the Best” program of the week-long celebration.
Addressing the COA community for the first time, Commissioner Fabia said, “Many of our auditors in a daily basis are subjected to certain degree of influences, and to a certain extent, even harassment, and so all auditors must possess courage.”
Besides courage, Commissioner Fabia said that auditors should also possess competence, integrity, and concern for the well-being of the society in their conduct of independent audit.
“I hope that we will have shared values of courage, competence, integrity, and concern for the well-being of the society in my stint as COA Commissioner,” he said.
Commissioner Fabia, who took his oath on May 2, 2014 at the Malacañan Palace, received a warm welcome from Chairperson Pulido Tan, Commissioner Heidi L. Mendoza, and the rest of the COA family.
Commissioner Fabia holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines, a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship (with Superior Performance) from the Asian Institute of Management, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Santo Tomas. He is a lawyer with over 31 years expertise in management and governance, law, business, international trade, migration, communication, and healthcare.
Prior to his appointment in COA, Commissioner Fabia was Director-General of the Philippine Information Agency, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health, and Municipal Mayor of Binmaley, Pangasinan. He also taught corporate law, negotiable instruments law, and insurance law at the College of Law of the University of Pangasinan. # – Jeff Leguiab